Kirk:

Some thoughts...

1. If you "plan on keeping it a long time" - I would recommend that you NOT buy a pre-pro at this time - wait 1 year and get one with HDMI 1.3.

2. Either combo will be fine. The Anthem Combo will probably sound better - but will it sound 20% better at twice the price? I don't know.

3. Looks like you are getting ready to make a sizeable investment in HT. IMHO, the most sensible way of "putting together" a great sounding system at ANY price point is to maintain proper "balance" among the components. The final sound quality will be "dragged down" by the lowest performing unit in your system.

I was looking at your speakers - again, IMHO, if you get either combo, your speakers will be the bottleneck. If I were in your position, I would start with better speakers and then build up from there. I would definitely keep the sub - that unit has a superb price-performance ratio...

If you plan on staying with your current speakers, I would get a B-stock Outlaw 970 and the Emotiva LPA-1 for under $1,150. You will see significant improvement over any < $2,000 receiver. Listening to good Jazz/Classical on a properly "put together" system is an out of the world experience...

BTW, what are you currently using for electronics?